Parachute release device



Jan. 15,1946. Q w, sKlNNER 2,393,072

PARACHUTE RELEASE DEVICE Filed May.23, 1944' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTUR. I

Patented Jan. 15, 1946 UNITED ,sTArss PATENT OFFICE l. s f 2,393,072 .-i

PARACHUTE. RELEASE newer Charles w: Skinner ,Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a

to Fashion Frocks, corporation of Ohio 1 Application Maya, 1944, seiia.1no.,s36,90s "1' Claim. (01. 24-223),

This invention relates toa device for. disconnecting certain of the component elementsci a parachute, and it is particularly concernedwith adevi-ce used to release the parachute canopy from the harness, although the utility is not necessarily limited to this exactiunction.

For disconnecting a parachute canopy after the parachutist has reached the ground it has been conventional in the past to provide a snap connection between the connector ring to which the shroud lines are attached and the parachute harness worn by the jumper, and to provide also means for the ready disengagement of the harness. This last means is ordinarily located centrally on the harness and, upon disengagement, completely detaches the harness, shroud lines, and canopy as a single unit. Although following a. jump it is theoretically possible to disengage the snap joining the connector ring, and the harness, in practice this is exceedingly difiicult to accomplish if thereis any strain at all on the line such as, for example, when a high wind is blowing.

It is also quite difficult for the parachutistto disengage himself from the harness straps when there is a strain on the line since thesestraps conventionally fit over both of his arms and legs. Where time is of the essence, as in a military operation, any difficulty whatsoever in the disengagement of the parachute canopy and shroudlines maymean the difierence between life and death to the wearerand may even affeet seriously the .course of .the operation. Actually there is no particular reasongwhy it should be necessary to disengage the harness immediately upon landing since, after theharness has been disconnected from the shroud lines and canopy, it constitutes only a very slight encumbrance to the wearer and does not in! terfere with the performance'of such military duties as may be required immediately upon landing.

While the desirability of disconnecting the shroud lines and canopy without disconnecting the harness has been suggested in the past the earlier structures provided for this purpose have been subject to the objection that they lacked the safety elements which are absolutely essential in this type of device. Obviously, if a means is to be provided for quickly releasing the shroud lines and canopy from the harness that means must be one which is exceedingly strong and sure in its operation and one which cannot conceivably become accidentally disengaged.

One of the objects of the present invention has been to provide .a device that meets these requirements;-that is, a device which provides a strong. and sure connection, which, however,

can be quickly and easily disengaged intentionally but not accidentally. I Y Another. object has. been to provide a latch in which the disengagement can be accomplished just as readily when the elements areunder a strain. such as that caused by a high wind, as under ordinary circumstances. .-..Another object has been to provide a device which can -be utilized with present standard equipment including the connector ring and snap which are now in conventional use. Alternatively, bya slight redesigning of the standard connector ring the snap can be omitted and the device of .the invention will function in lieu thereof. a 1

Another object has been to provide a device of simple construction in whichthere is a minimum of. possibility of loss or impairment of utility due to the wear or. breakage of theparts.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from thefurther and more detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which:

-Figure'1 represents a perspective view 'of a parachute assembly with the canopy in open position and the device of the invention installed as a connector element between the connector ring and the harness.

Figure 2 is a top plan view ofthe device of the inventionin open'or unlatched position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3+3, Figure'2,the sleeve in this view being of a slightly modified form from that shown in Figure 2'.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view showing the device-in latched position. v J V Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5, Figure 2.

a Figure 6 is a top plan view of the invention utilized-in conjunction with a standard conhector-ring and snap. I 3 1 a .7 A

Figure 7 is a side elevation of..the' same elements shown in Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 1 the parachute canopy is indicated generally at l0 and the shroud lines at H. The release device of the invention is indicated at l2. A harness strap I3 is shown inserted and fastened through a. slot I4 in the release device. The shroud lines are secured through a similar slot l5 in the connector ring 20 to which the shroud lines are secured.

The device l2 comprises a metal plate I6 into tion is preferably of substantially the .same

thickness as the lug to -permit a slidable gagement of both members by the sleeve [9.

The connector ring 20 as shown in Figures 1-3 is of a construction which has been varied somewhat from the standard construction to-permit it to be utilized with the device of the present invention. Althoughthe slot I5 is standard in this part a second slot 2! has been formed in the em bodiment shown and this slot is adapted to encompass exactly the lug H on, the plate '16. Al ternatively, where a connector ring 33 of the standard type shown in Figures 6 and '7 is utilized a standard snap 34 of the type also shown in these figures may be secured to the connector ring in the-manner shown. This snap conventionally includes a slot .35 of the same size and configuration as the slot 2 andin the conventional construction is utilized to support the harness straps.

. A pin .22 is positioned vertically in a corresponding bore in the lug II. The lower end of this pin has the head 29 formed integrally with it. This head and the head 3110f similar configuration enclose the spring 3| positioned in the vertical :bore 32 .inth'e lug. This spring normally forces the pin 22 outwardly from the lug inthe manner shown in Figure 3. 1

Aslidable sleeve I9 i positioned on the plate and operates to hold the connector ring in positionlon the lug ll 1. This sleeve which may be of generally rectangular configuration has a button 23 positioned medially in a vertical bore 38 therein. This button includes a head portion 25 and a shank'portion 26 which depends into the hollow bore 21. A head 28 is secured to the lower end of the shank portion. As the sleeve I9 is moved along theplate toward the connector ring the pin 22 is 'depressed-bythe inclined surface 36 until its upper edge is substantially level with the upper surface of the lug. As the movement proceeds, the pin 22 contacts the head 28 andjthe action of the spring 3! forces the pin upwardly and extends the head to the position shown in Figure 4. At, this point the device is in locked position. 1

In unlocking, the button 23 is firstdepressed until the upper edge of the pin 2 21s substantially level withthe upper surface of the body portion it of the plate 16. The'sleeve is then moved; towardthe slot 14 until it assumes the position shown in Figure '3 and the connector ring 20 may be lifted off the iug i-l. A stop pin 24 prevents movement or the sleeve it beyond the body portion 18. ,v

. As shown in Figure :5, the sleeve 19 may be formed insections secured together by the screws 31. However, if desired, it may also :be formed as a single integralpieee.

It will be apparent from a consideration of the operation of the device that when it is in locked position, as shown in Figure 4, it cannot be disengaged unless two distinct operations are performed. In the first place, the button 23 must be depressed and, in the second place, the sleeve [9 must he slid toward the slot I4 sufliclently .to disengage the sleeve from the connector ring. The possibility of this series of movements being'performed accidentally is exceedingly remote.

One of the most important advantages of the device is that the disconnection can be accomplished equally well when the elements are under strain. Such conditions would have no effect whatsoever on the operations of depressing the button 23 and moving the slidable sleeve, while the operationorlifting the connector ring 20 from the lug I1 is easy of accomplishment under any conditions. shown particularly in Figures 6 and 7, the device of the invention may be utilized in conjunction with the standard connector ring and the standard snap illustrated in these figures as well as with the specially configurated connector ring shown in Figures 1-5. Where the standard snap .is employed the slot 35 in this snap 34 'is utilized instead of the slot 2! formed in the particular. connector ring shown in the embodiment illustratedinFigures 1-5. 7

the invention has been disclosed par ticularly in connection with a passenger parachute with or without-minor modifications falling'well within the scope of the invention, it may be used equally well in tow targets and for cargo and-supply dropping. Itrnay also be utilized in conjunction with a safety belt of the type utilized by airplane passengers. V

While in its preferred embodiment the incention contemplatesthe formation of the sleeve 19 from metal-in certain utilities such as, for example, cargoand supply dropping, it may be possible to form the sleeve from cloth or leather, possibly reenforced by metal or fiber.

Having describedmy invention, I claim: 7 'Adevice for detachablysecuring the connector ringer *a parachute to the harness thereof comprising' a plate having a slot therein for attachment to'the harness and a lug projecting'i'rom the outer surface'er the plate for engagement with a slot in the "connector ring and means for preventing disengagement of the connector ring from the lugjsa'id means including a pin insertedina-loore in the lug, spring means normally actuating the pin outwardly, a slidable sleeve positioned on-the plate, said sleeve having an'inner surface inclined away from the plate to facilitate the'movement of the sleeve over the pin and having an aperture therein for the reception of the pin in looking engagement when CHARLES W. SKINNER. 

